Letter to Edward
Partridge, 2 May 1833

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

I commence answering your letter & sincere
request to me, by begging your pardon for not having addressed you, more
particularly in letters which I have written to Zion, for I have always felt, as
though a letter written to any one in authority in Zion, would be the property of
all, & it mattered but little to whom it was directed. But I am satisfied that this is an error, for
instruction that is given pointedly, and expressly to us, designating our names
as individuals, seems to have double power and influence over our minds, I am
thankful to the Lord for the testimony of his spirit, which he has given me,
concerning your honesty, and sincerity before him, and the Lord loveth you, and also Zion, for he
chasteneth whom he loveth, and scourgeth every son & daughter whom he
receiveth, and he, will not suffer you to be confounded, and of this thing you
may rest assured, notwithstanding, all the threatning of the enemy, and your
perils among false brethren, For verily I say unto you, that this is my prayer,
and I verily believe the prayer of all the saints in Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

, recorded in heaven, in these words, Heavenly Father in the
name of Jesus Christ thy son, preserve brother Edward

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

,
and give him wisdom, knowledge & power, & the holy ghost, that he may
impart to thy saints in Zion. their inheritance

Generally referred to land promised by or received from God for the church and its members. A January 1831 revelation promised church members a land of inheritance. In March and May 1831, JS dictated revelations commanding members “to purchase lands for an...

, & to every man his portion of
meat in due season, and now,
this is our confidence & record on high, therefore fear not little flock, for it
has been your fathers good will to give you the kingdom,. and now, I
will proceed to tell you my views, concerning consecration

The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...

Principles given to the church and its members in February 1831 revelations. In January 1831, a revelation promised the saints in New York that the law would be given after they gathered in Ohio. Once in Ohio, on 9 and 23 February 1831, JS dictated two revelations...

, binds you to receive, whatsoever property is
consecrated, by deed, The consecrated property, is considered the residue kept
for the Lords store
house

Both a literal and a figurative repository for goods and land donated to the church. The book of Malachi directed the house of Israel to bring “all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house.” In JS’s revision of the Old Testament...

, and it is given for this consideration, for to purchase
inheritaces for the poor, this, any man has a right to do, agreeable to all laws
of our country, to donate, give or consecrate all that he feels disposed to give,
and it is your duty, to see that whatsoever is given, is given legally,
therefore, it must be given for the consideration of the poor saints, and in this
way no man can take any advantage of you in law,
Again, concerning inheritances, you are bound by the law of the Lord, to give a
deed, secureing to him who receives inheritances, his inheritance, for an
everlasting inheritance, or in other words, to be his individual property,
his privat
stewardship

One who managed property and goods under the law of consecration; also someone given a specific ecclesiastical responsibility. According to the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” members of the church were to make donations to the bishop, who would record the...

,
and if he is found a transgressor & should be cut off, out of the
church, his inheritance is his still and he is dilivered
over to the buffetings of satan, till the day of redemption,
But the property which he consecrated to the poor, for their benefit, &
inheritance, & stewardship, he cannot obtain again by the law of the Lord,
Thus you see the propriety of this law, that rich men cannot have power to
disinherit the poor by obtaining again that which they have consecrated, which is
the residue, signified in the law, that you will find in the second paragraph of
the extract from the law, in the second number, And now brother
Edward

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

, be assured that we all feel thankful, that the brethren in Zion
are beginning to humble themselves, & trying to keep the commandments

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

I commence answering your letter & sincere
request to me, by begging your pardon for not having addressed you, more
particularly in letters which I have written to Zion, for I have always felt, as
though a letter written to any one in authority in Zion, would be the property of
all, & it mattered but little to whom it was directed. But I am satisfied that this is an error, for
instruction that is given pointedly, and expressly to us, designating our names
as individuals, seems to have double power and influence over our minds, I am
thankful to the Lord for the testimony of his spirit, which he has given me,
concerning your honesty, and sincerity before him, and the Lord loveth you, and also Zion, for he
chasteneth whom he loveth, and scourgeth every son & daughter whom he
receiveth, and he, will not suffer you to be confounded, and of this thing you
may rest assured, notwithstanding, all the threatning of the enemy, and your
perils among false brethren, For verily I say unto you, that this is my prayer,
and I verily believe the prayer of all the saints in Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

, recorded in heaven, in these words, Heavenly Father in the
name of Jesus Christ thy son, preserve brother Edward

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

,
and give him wisdom, knowledge & power, & the holy ghost, that he may
impart to thy saints in Zion. their inheritance

Generally referred to land promised by or received from God for the church and its members. A January 1831 revelation promised church members a land of inheritance. In March and May 1831, JS dictated revelations commanding members “to purchase lands for an...

, & to every man his portion of
meat in due season, and now,
this is our confidence & record on high, therefore fear not little flock, for it
has been your fathers good will to giv[e] you the king[dom],. and now, I
will proceed to tell you my views, concerning consecration

The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...

Principles given to the church and its members in February 1831 revelations. In January 1831, a revelation promised the saints in New York that the law would be given after they gathered in Ohio. Once in Ohio, on 9 and 23 February 1831, JS dictated two revelations...

, binds you to receive, whatsoever property is
consecrated, by deed, The consecrated property, is considered the residue kept
for the Lords store
house

Both a literal and a figurative repository for goods and land donated to the church. The book of Malachi directed the house of Israel to bring “all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house.” In JS’s revision of the Old Testament...

, and it is given for this consideration, for to purchase
inheritaces for the poor, this, any man has a right to do, agreeable to all laws
of our country, to donate, give or consecrate all that he feels disposed to give,
and it is your duty, to see that whatsoever is given, is given legally,
therefore, it must be given for the consideration of the poor saints, and in this
way no man can take any advantage of you in law,
Again, concerning inheritances, you are bound by the law of the Lord, to give a
deed, secureing to him who receives inheritances, his inheritance, for an
everlasting inheritance, or in other words, to be his individual prope[r]ty,
his privat
ste[wa]rdship

One who managed property and goods under the law of consecration; also someone given a specific ecclesiastical responsibility. According to the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” members of the church were to make donations to the bishop, who would record the...

,
and if he is found a transgressor & should be cut off, out of the
church, his inheritance is his still and he is dilivere[d]
over to the buffetings of satan, till the day of redemption,
But the property which he consecrated to the poor, for their benefit, &
inheritance, & stewardship, he cannot obtain again by the law of the Lord,
Thus you see the propriety of this law, that rich men cannot have power to
disinherit the poor by obtaining again that which they have consecrated, which is
the residue, signified in the law, that you will find in the second paragraph of
the extract from the law, in the second number, And now b[r]other
Edward

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

, be assured that we all feel thankful, that the brethren in Zion
are beginning to humble themselves, & trying to keep the commandments

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

This letter from
JS introduced an important adjustment to how the
law of consecration was to be implemented among the
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

members. The initial arrangement had
been called into question on legal grounds related to personal property rights.
This communication specified a distinction between what might be retained by
the church as a donation and what should be considered individual property. The
church’s bishop in Missouri,
Edward
Partridge

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

Located twelve miles from western Missouri border. Permanently settled, platted, and designated county seat, 1827. Hub for steamboat travel on Missouri River. Point of departure for Santa Fe Trail. Population in 1831 about 300. Mormon population by summer...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

Located twelve miles from western Missouri border. Permanently settled, platted, and designated county seat, 1827. Hub for steamboat travel on Missouri River. Point of departure for Santa Fe Trail. Population in 1831 about 300. Mormon population by summer...

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...

27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...